Two of the newest appointees to the Order of Canada are tied to the commercial real estate and development sectors. Governor General Mary Simon announced the honours for Chris Tambakis, chief executive officer of Adgar Canada, and Rod Senft, chairman of Tricor Pacific Capital, just ahead of Canada Day 2025.
They join 81 other meritorious Canadians to be recognized for exemplary contributions to their communities and the country. The Order of Canada is one of the highest national honours awarded to civilians and carries the motto DESIDERANTES MELIOREM PATRIAM, which translates to: They desire a better country.
“We proudly recognize each of these individuals whose dedication and passion for service not only enrich our communities but also help shape the fabric of our nation,” Governor General Simon affirms. “They inspire us to strive for greatness and to foster a future filled with hope and possibility.”
The citation accompanying Tambakis’ appointment commends him as “a recognized leader in Canadian commercial real estate” and “a passionate philanthropist and active volunteer” who applies his business acumen to support the economy and society. Adgar Canada is a Toronto-based real estate company with a portfolio of 27 office buildings encompassing approximately 3 million square feet of space. The company has a stated commitment to ESG and has been a longstanding backer of numerous public foundations, including CAMH, the North York General Hospital, the Heart & Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Cancer Society.
Tambakis is a graduate of the Ivey School of Business at Western University and a member of its advisory board. He also serves on the board of Heart & Stroke Canada, the Ontario Science Centre and the Toronto Santa Claus Parade.
“It’s great to see Chris recognized for his charitable and philanthropic efforts through this award,” says Michael Brooks, chief executive officer of the Real Property Association of Canada (REALPAC). “Chris is a well-liked and highly regarded member of the commercial real estate community in Canada, many of whom also give freely of their time to similar causes to make Canada a better place.”
The citation accompanying Senft’s appointment commends him as “a prominent Canadian business leader and philanthropist” who oversees a diverse portfolio of companies and supports health, education, arts and sports initiatives through the Senft Family Foundation. Tricor Pacific’s real estate related endeavours include Tricor Property Partners, which develops, owns and manages purpose-built industrial properties throughout North America, and Areva Living, a developer of condominium and purpose-built rental housing in the Greater Vancouver region.
Senft holds Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Law degrees from the University of Manitoba, and has been a strong advocate for family businesses and entrepreneurship. That includes sponsorship of the annual Rod Senft Family Business Conference at University of Manitoba.
